1934 Ford Coupe - Eco-Boosted

This rod looks like a totally traditional, '50s-flavored '34 three-window, doesn't it? But hold on: First looks, as they say, can be deceiving. Under the period detailing, this is all 21st century hardware. The coupe belongs to Kurt Kurtenbach of Experi-metal Inc. (EMI) in Sterling Heights, Michigan. A specialist in prototyping and short-run stampings for the Detroit OEs, EMI is also the manufacturing force behind a number of the all-new, all-steel bodies exploding across the hot rod aftermarket, the newest being the '34 coupe shell marketed by Steve's Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon. Grabbing one of the first bodies off the line, Kurt combined the shiny, new '34 sheetmetal with the latest in engine technology from Ford Motor Co., the EcoBoost V-6. This rod is the result.

2/10The Steve's Auto Restorations body is built with a stock roof height and opening but employs a one-piece, 360-degree door ring pressing for maximum strength and consistent panel fits.

The 3.5L EcoBoost is one of the most advanced engines currently offered by an American automaker. The trick piece features all-aluminum construction, dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, variable cam timing, direct fuel injection, and twin, intercooled Honeywell turbochargers. For 2010, the EcoBoost is offered in the Taurus SHO, where it is rated at 365 hp, and also in the Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex. In Ford's future, the company foresees the EcoBoost V-6 used in many of the applications that once called for a small to midsize V-8.

Adapting this sophisticated engine to street rod use while making all that magnificent high-tech gadgetry work correctly can't be easy. Further complicating matters: While longitudinal applications are currently in the works, thus far the EcoBoost has been used only in transverse front-drive, east/west applications. The engine would have to be rotated 90 degrees and repackaged in a north/south configuration to fit in the '34 chassis.

3/10Technosports handled the adaptation of the EcoBoost V-6 into the '34 chassis, also fabricating the satin-finish exhaust megaphones with silencers hidden inside.

That tricky task was ably covered by Technosports Inc. of Livonia, Michigan, another Detroit-area firm that specializes in prototype and development work for the automakers and the motorsports industry as well. Technosports relocated the turbos and charge coolers, fabricated new intake and exhaust systems, made accommodations for the Vintage Air A/C system, and hooked the whole thing up to a Tremec TKO five-speed manual gearbox. Final tuning and calibration were performed at Ford Powertrain, the mother ship, where the combination made 400 hp and 400 lb-ft on the dyno.

Bob Smith of Detroit Street Rods served as manager for the overall build with head wrench Rick Rzepka leading the assembly work, which was performed at EMI's own fabrication shop. Naturally, all the sheetmetal is brand-new stuff from EMI and Steve's Auto Restorations, including the fenders and running boards, though the hood is a Rootlieb part. The exterior theme uses as many original-style Ford trim pieces as possible to accentuate the body's authenticity-the taillamps, headlamps, and other barbs and baubles are all '34 reproductions. The chassis is by the Roadster Shop using independent wishbones and rack-and-pinion steering in front and a coilover four-link in the rear with a 3.90-geared 9-inch axle from John's Industries.

The paint was laid on by Kustom Creations in Sterling Heights. Kustom, which uses Sherwin-Williams and Planet Color materials exclusively, shot matte clear over the medium blue on the cab to create a primered look, while the darker blue metallic on the fenders is actually a standard Ford truck color code. As with many unique paint schemes, the result is somewhat polarizing. People tend to love it or hate it-like the choice of a V-6 for a street rod rather than the more conventional V-8. But you have to admit the EcoBoost looks pretty good in front of a white firewall. And with those big dual megaphones, it sounds pretty good, too.